Daily Readings - Fri Nov 04 2022
Philippians
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Luke
1Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.2So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'3"The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--4I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'5"So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'6"'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'7"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'"'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'8"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on our focus and actions in light of our eternal destiny. The first reading from Philippians encourages us to imitate Paul and live according to the Gospel, warning against a life centered on earthly desires. Paul reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, where we await Christ’s return to transform our bodies. This passage emphasizes living with a heavenly perspective, urging us to stand firm in our faith.
The Gospel parable of the dishonest steward challenges us to think about how we manage the resources entrusted to us. The steward, facing dismissal, secures his future by reducing the debts of others, earning his master’s praise for shrewdness. Jesus highlights that worldly people often handle their affairs more astutely than believers, prompting us to consider how we use our resources to build eternal treasures.
Both readings connect by urging us to live with intentionality and foresight. While the Philippians reading focuses on a heavenly orientation, the parable encourages prudent use of earthly resources for eternal gain. In our daily lives, this means making decisions that reflect our ultimate goal of heaven, using our resources wisely to serve others and build a lasting legacy. The moral lesson is clear: live with purpose, using your resources to glorify God and serve others, ensuring that your actions today lead to eternal rewards tomorrow.